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A mail slot mechanism, a small automated storage library incorporating the mail slot mechanism, and method of operating the mail slot mechanism to insert and remove storage media cartridges from a small automated storage library are disclosed. The storage library includes an array of cartridge slots

A mail slot mechanism, a small automated storage library incorporating the mail slot mechanism, and method of operating the mail slot mechanism to insert and remove storage media cartridges from a small automated storage library are disclosed. The storage library includes an array of cartridge slots. Each cartridge slot is adapted to hold one storage media cartridge. One or more of these cartridge slots may function as the mail slot. Each mail slot has a top opening and a side opening through which one storage media cartridge can pass. The mail slot is disposed adjacent an opening in the storage library's housing and is pivotable between a user access position and a robot access position. A resilient member biases the mail slot toward the robot access position. A storage media cartridge may be manually inserted and removed through the top opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the user access position. The storage library's robotic mechanism may insert and remove one storage media cartridge at a time through the side opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the robot access position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A storage library for housing a plurality of storage media cartridges, the storage library comprising:a housing having an opening; a plurality of cartridge slots each having a first opening and being disposed inside the housing to hold the plurality of storage media cartridges, wherein at least o

1. A storage library for housing a plurality of storage media cartridges, the storage library comprising:a housing having an opening; a plurality of cartridge slots each having a first opening and being disposed inside the housing to hold the plurality of storage media cartridges, wherein at least one cartridge slot of the plurality of cartridge slots is a mail slot, wherein the mail slot disposed adjacent to the opening in the housing, is pivotable between a first position and a second position, and has a second opening that is disposed on a top of the mail slot as defined with the mail slot at the first position, wherein manual insertion of one storage media cartridge at a time into the mail slot and manual removal of one storage media cartridge at a time from the mail slot are accomplished at least partially through the second opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the second position; and a robotic mechanism disposed inside the housing and operative to move the plurality of storage media cartridges one at a time among the plurality of cartridge slots including the mail slot, wherein the robotic mechanism inserts one storage media cartridge at a time into the mail slot and removes one storage media cartridge at a time from the mail slot through the first opening in the mail slot when the mail slot is at the first position.